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Adam Teicher ESPN Staff Writer

LB Breeland Speaks has signed with the Chiefs. Speaks was the first player drafted this year by the Chiefs, in the second round. The Chiefs have signed four of their six draft picks.

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Michael Rothstein ESPN Staff Writer

The Lions running backs working on cutting.

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Jamison Hensley ESPN Staff Writer

Joe Flacco is focused on winning now and not the significance of the Ravens drafting Lamar Jackson

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Nick Wagoner ESPN Staff Writer

Linebacker Reuben Foster rejoined the 49ers on Thursday, the team confirmed. Foster was welcomed back after felony charges of domestic violence against him were dismissed on Wednesday.

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Michael Rothstein ESPN Staff Writer

Matthew Stafford on the new NFL rules regarding the national anthem: "Listen, man, we haven't talked about it as a team and we'll figure all that stuff out when it comes to September. I'm not too worried about it at the moment. I'm just focused on trying to get better."

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Mike Rodak ESPN Staff Writer

Former NFL coach Jerry Glanville told ESPN on Thursday that anthem protests would not have happened while he was a coach, adding, "I don't blame the players. I blame the gutless league for not taking a stand immediately, and saying, ‘You're going to do this or we're not going to be together.' What's happened in the league, it reminds me of somebody that will never make a decision. ‘Before I make a decision, I better see if it's approved.' Make the decision and move on. The commissioner -- they got things in Kentucky where Jesse James robbed a bank. The commissioner has been robbing the league. Make a dang decision. Be the commissioner and move on."

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Mike Rodak ESPN Staff Writer

Former NFL coach Jerry Glanville told ESPN on Thursday of the NFL's new anthem policy, "My thought is the problem is with the league, with nobody having the courage and the guts to make rules and make people follow them. Players are players. If you say, ‘Everybody stands,' and that's the end of it -- if you don't, you're going home – everybody stands. I know there is injustice in the United States. I know there is police injustice. I know there is injustice in the courts. I would tell my team, ‘We don't like that we want to protest. Tuesday is the day off. I'll go with you. And we'll protest. Don't bring your protest to the game. Bring it to everybody when we're not the team.' As an individual – Kaepernick, you want to protest, let's go Tuesday. I'll be there right with you. I'll tell these players, I might be the only guy coaching that saw Martin Luther King live. I went to Danville, Virginia [in 1963]. I stood there. Guess what? I got run over by a policeman on a horse. But that nothing to do with the game. You do your protests outside the game."

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Jenna Laine ESPN Staff Writer

Adam Teicher ESPN Staff Writer

Sammy Watkins was among a large group of players returning kickoffs at the start of Chiefs practice. The chances of Watkins, who has never returned a kickoff in an NFL game, returning even one in a game for the Chiefs are not good but it's interesting he's at least getting a look. It's not uncommon for the Chiefs to ask different players to shag some kicks in practice. They did that with Marcus Peters after he first arrived. The Chiefs were rewarded in this area when they had Knile Davis return kickoffs even though he had never done so in college. Davis eventually developed into a top kickoff returner.

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Adam Teicher ESPN Staff Writer

The Chiefs had perfect attendance at Thursday's practice. All 90 players were present, including safety Eric Berry and linebacker Justin Houston, who haven't participated in OTAs in recent years. All but three players participated in practice at least on a limited basis. Center Mitch Morse, running back Spencer Ware and receiver De'Anthony Thomas are rehabbing after surgeries and did not participate.

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Jenna Laine ESPN Staff Writer

Bucs defensive end Vinny Curry on the NFL's new ruling allowing players who wished to protest to remain in the locker room: "That's not really a protest, I don't think. That's like saying, ‘Hey if you're going to be outside picketing, don't picket outside my building, go inside. [But] I can't really speak on what other players think about that..."

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Mike Triplett ESPN Staff Writer

Sean Payton said it's a "great question" when asked how long it will take teams to adjust to the new kickoff rules because there is "no template, really, to look at." "So I think for the first quarter of the season, I think you're gonna see a safer play. And I think you're gonna also see a more exciting play," Payton said. "I think you're gonna see teams that approach it with a return in mind that's different. It's gonna change a little bit of the body types of who might be on that unit, with eight guys deployed in the first 15 yards. So we're discussing it and spending time on it now."

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Adam Teicher ESPN Staff Writer

The Chiefs had their finished their first week of offseason practice and Thursday's workout wasn't a good one for quarterback Patrick Mahomes II and the rest of the starting offense. Mahomes was 4-of-15 with an interception in full team drills and 7-of-12 with an interception in 7-on-7 drills. The interception in full team drill was on a pass tipped at the line of scrimmage and caught by linebacker Tanoh Kpassagnon. On the interceptions, coach Andy Reid said, “You want to test what you can get away with at these camps so you're going to have interceptions. That doesn't bother me. You repeat it and now that's a problem. But you want to test it and see what you can get away with. That's all part of the way this thing works.''

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Mike Triplett ESPN Staff Writer

Sean Payton said the Saints will discuss their approach to the NFL's new national anthem policy as a team and that they're fortunate to have great player leadership.

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Jamison Hensley ESPN Staff Writer

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco on his reaction to when team drafted Lamar Jackson: "When you draft anyone in the first round, there is always a plan. What that plan is? I don't know. I'm worried about right now."

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Michael Rothstein ESPN Staff Writer

Just some other thoughts from the first Lions open OTA: Frank Ragnow was getting a lot of work at left guard instead of center -- mirroring what Ragnow has been doing the first two days of OTAs when the media wasn't present.
Alex Barrett was surprisingly getting a lot of playing time Thursday, mostly with the second unit, as a player standing up instead of with his hand down on the line of scrimmage. I caught notice of him multiple times, too. An undrafted free agent last year, this could be the right defense for him to figure things out, particularly with his versatility.
It was without pads and still early, but new tight end Luke Willson looked like he could be a red zone threat. He caught a couple of passes in the end zone and made some difficult plays. Overall, a strong start for the guy who grew up a Lions fan.

Michael DiRocco ESPN Staff Writer

Asked Jaguars DL coach Marion Hobby what he liked about first-round pick DT Taven Bryan. His response: "Six-foot-5 ... 291 pounds..." Also said he likes that Bryan asks a lot of questions and isn't afraid to speak up.

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Jenna Laine ESPN Staff Writer

In the past, Bucs coach Dirk Koetter has been proactive addressing the national anthem and surrounding issues, meeting with players. He told me, "I think it's important to continue working with the players. If you remember, I don't think this started out as a national anthem issue. That's not what the protests are about."

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Mike Triplett ESPN Staff Writer

Sean Payton said new Saints WR Cameron Meredith is "way ahead of schedule" in his recovery from a major knee injury and will be a factor this year. Meredith participated in position drills only — but he caught the first pass thrown from Drew Brees in a drill against air in the first OTA practice that was open to the media Thursday. ... G Andrus Peat, LB A.J. Klein and DE Alex Okafor were among those who did not participate Thursday after ending last season on I.R. DE Cameron Jordan participated only in individual drills. As expected, RB Mark Ingram was not in attendance.

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Jeremy Fowler ESPN Staff Writer

Michael Rothstein ESPN Staff Writer

Glover Quin only player not at voluntary Lions OTA on Thursday. Ezekiel Ansah was there but didn't do much — same with TJ Jones. OL Joe Dahl and S Tavon Wilson both had red no-contact jerseys. Also, LB Nick Bellore did a lot of work on offense.

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Brady Henderson ESPN

The Seahawks later today will hold their third organized team activity, the first that will be open to the media. The start of OTAs means the start of Phase 3 of the offseason program. Live contact is still not permitted, but for the first time teams can hold offense-vs.-defense drills such as seven-on-seven or 11-on-11. In an interview Monday with 710 ESPN Seattle, linebacker Bobby Wagner explained that the pre-Phase 3 rules meant minimal interaction between the offense and defense at a time when Seattle's roster has lots of new faces: "We're so separated during these periods that you don't get to really interact or see the other side of the ball, so it's like this is the first day we actually get to see the other side of the ball. We [weren't] allowed on the field when they're doing their drills, so it's just like we're kind of separated. So when they go on the field, we're in the rooms. And when they're in the rooms, [we're] on the field. So it's literally when you see them, it's just in passing, like 'Hey, what's up, Russ? Alright, have a good day.'"

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Jamison Hensley ESPN Staff Writer

Ravens coach John Harbaugh's statement on national anthem issue:
“I believe in standing for the flag. To me, the flag represents the ideas and the ideals that make us America. I also believe in the freedoms the flag represents and that people can speak for themselves. I know this: Our players respect the flag and what it represents. And, we're all proud at the Ravens of the work they do to make this community and country better.”

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Michael Rothstein ESPN Staff Writer

Matt Patricia opened his press conference by discussing the importance -- to him -- of Memorial Day. His quote in full: "Just before the weekend begins just wanted to make sure I take a moment to recognize the families and the veterans, all of the active military that will be reflecting throughout the next few days on family members, fellow soldiers that obviously made the ultimate sacrifice. I think Memorial Day weekend, for some, it's a time of family gatherings, cookouts and the start of summer but we shouldn't forget the real purpose behind the holiday and I've been very fortunate over the last several years to build some relationships with members of the military both past and present and their families and I personally will be thinking of them in the next coming days."

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